Departmental Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department and its predecessor paid in (a) damages, (b) claimant costs and (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against his Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled in each of the last three years.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has paid no monies in respect of damages, claimant costs or defendant costs in any of the last three years.

Churches: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the Church Commissioners have received on the role of churches in rural communities; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Baldry: Churches play an important and often essential role in rural community life. As well as organising church-based activities and events, members of rural congregations take part in a wide range of other non-church community organisations, events and activities, contributing their time and skills to groups that help deliver the big society in rural places.
	A 2006 study carried out by the university of Coventry, “Faith in Rural Communities: contributions of social capital to community vibrancy”, looked at six different rural settlements and several different church denominations. It found that in several of the places studied church members made such a significant contribution to non-church activities and events that in many cases the community would cease to effectively function without their activities. Other research reports that explore the contribution of rural churches to rural community life include: “Faith in the Community—the contribution of faith-based organisations to rural voluntary action” (NCVO, 2007) and “Building Better Neighbourhoods—the contribution of faith communities to Oxfordshire Life” (university of Coventry, 2010).
	Informal networks and relationships are among the most important contributions that rural church congregations make to rural community life. As well as offering regular opportunities for collective worship and prayer, rural church congregations can give care and support to those suffering isolation and loneliness. Church buildings often act as places where barriers are broken down between different social groups and people have the opportunity to meet together on equal terms, and provide spaces in which events, activities and meetings can take place. Though not all rural churches are suitable for the purpose, some already run formally constituted projects or initiatives, such as pre-schools, youth clubs or facilities for older residents. In some places the church building has been adapted to house specific services such as a SureStart centre, post office, a community owned shop or library.

Clergy: Ethnic Groups

John Robertson: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many vicars of the Church of England from black and minority ethnic backgrounds there were in each year since 2000.

Tony Baldry: The Church of England undertook the first comprehensive clergy survey in 2005 to measure diversity.
	This revealed that 2.2% of Anglican Church of England Clergy self identified with black or minority ethnic backgrounds.
	An ongoing process of monitoring and data collection will enable a 2010 diversity estimate to be published at the meeting of the General Synod in York this July.

Museums and Galleries

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will put in place arrangements to assess the potential effects of reductions in local government, regional development agency and higher education expenditure on admission charges to local and regional museums; and if he will publish each assessment.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 4 May 2011
	The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) monitor the overall effects of changes in local government, regional development agency and higher education funding to local and regional museums, particularly the effects of funding changes on the museums funded through the Government's Renaissance in the Regions programme. There are no plans to put mechanisms in place to monitor the specific impact of changes in these funding streams on the price of admission to local and regional museums.

Electoral Register

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of introducing individual voter registration.

Mark Harper: A total of £99 million was allocated at the spending review last year to meet the cost of implementing individual electoral registration, including £85 million resource and £14 million capital funding the vast majority of which is to fund registration officers to make contact with each potential elector individually and invite them to register in 2014. Following the conclusion of the data matching pilot schemes at the end of this year, a decision will be taken on whether to fund the roll-out of data matching across Great Britain.
	The cost of implementing individual registration in this Parliament represents a saving to the taxpayer of an estimated £74.5 million to £77.8 million. This cost reflects the Government’s decision not to proceed with the previous Government’s plans to introduce individual registration on a voluntary basis in parallel to the existing system.

First Time Buyers

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government plans to take to provide assistance for those purchasing a home for the first time in the next 12 months.

Grant Shapps: The Government are committed to supporting those who aspire to own their own home. I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 4 April 2011, Official Report, column 738, to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Jane Ellison) and on 4 April 2011, Official Report, columns 729-30, to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes),
	Since the announcement of the FirstBuy scheme in the Budget, the Homes and Communities Agency has invited house builders, who will co-fund the scheme, to bring forward offers by 19 May, with the aim of assisting over 10,000 first time buyers in the next two years.

Homelessness

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of homelessness.

Grant Shapps: This Government are committed to tackling homelessness and supporting the vulnerable. We have protected homelessness prevention grant funding, with £400 million over the spending review period. For 2011-12, we have announced allocations of £81.5 million for local authorities and £18.5 million for the voluntary sector to support their work to tackle and prevent homelessness.
	We have made an additional £190 million available for discretionary housing payments and other forms of practical support alongside the Government’s package of welfare reform measures.
	And we are working closely with the National Homelessness Advisory Service to ensure front-line advice workers have the support they need to tackle homelessness effectively.
	We have also established a cross-Government working group on homelessness bringing together Ministers from eight Government Departments to address the complex causes of homelessness and rough sleeping. The Ministerial Working Group will publish a report before the summer recess. A new approach to evaluating rough sleeping levels has been introduced so that there is clear information in all areas, to inform service provision and action to address the problem.

West Coast Intercity Franchise

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he plans to use to award the West Coast Intercity rail franchise for 2012 to 2026; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The public consultation on the InterCity West Coast franchise ended on 21 April and the Department is currently considering all responses. The criteria for awarding the franchise will be published in the Invitation to Tender document.

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his ministerial team have been issued with (a) an Oyster card and (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on government business.

Norman Baker: All Ministers at the Department for Transport have the use of a pay as you go Oyster card for travel on Government business. None of the Ministers has been issued with a monthly or annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by the Department.
	Section 10 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance on travel for Ministers and makes clear that Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Great Western Railway

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the seated passenger capacity is of direct services between Chippenham and London Paddington using existing rolling stock; and what estimate he has made of the likely seated passenger capacity on such services using the proposed Intercity Express Programme fleet from 2016.

Theresa Villiers: The passenger capacity of existing rolling stock operating direct services between Chippenham and London Paddington is 514 seats per train. The future likely seated passenger capacity on the same services using the Intercity Express Programme fleet would be around the same, although with the proposed doubling in train frequencies between London and Bristol, more of these seats could be available to Chippenham passengers.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration was given to the effect of the introduction of universal access to nearly free high definition video links over the internet on the number of business meetings conducted over the internet in the projected business passenger numbers for HS2.

Philip Hammond: The demand forecasts for HS2 were developed in line with Department for Transport guidance and using industry- and Government-standard models. These are regularly revised in the light of updated information on demand growth, which would itself reflect the effects of improvements in video conferencing and other communications technologies.

Burma: Homicide

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps with his international counterparts to ensure that the alleged actions of Than Naing Lwin of the Burma Army in respect of the extrajudicial execution of Saw Par Ta are investigated and that those responsible are held accountable; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Government are concerned by reports of an alleged attack on a Karen ethnic minority villager by the Burmese army. On the renewal of EU sanctions at the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 April 2011, EU Foreign Ministers called on the Burmese Government to end impunity for violations of human rights and to co-operate fully with the UN. The Government secured strongly worded human rights resolutions at the UN General Assembly in October 2010 and at the Human Rights Council in March 2011 which called for the Burmese authorities to end abuses against ethnic groups and to honour their commitment to undertake a full, impartial and independent investigation into all human rights violations.

Burma: Thailand

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of repatriation of Burmese refugees in camps on the border with Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Government have not received any recent reports that suggest Burmese refugees in camps along the Thai-Burma border have been repatriated. Our ambassador to Thailand raised concerns over allegations of forced repatriation with the governor of Tak province and the Royal Thai Army on 17 January 2011. Our ambassador reinforced our concerns when he saw the Thai Foreign Minister on 19 January 2011. He raised the issue again with Thai officials on 31 March 2011. On each occasion the Thai authorities assured us that no refugees will be repatriated to Burma until it is safe for them to return. We remain in close contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), international donors and the Thai authorities, and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Departmental Equality

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for diversity issues within his Department.

Henry Bellingham: The Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the management of staff within the Department, including diversity issues.

Syria: Politics and Government

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the practice of Syrian military forces dressing in civilian clothing.

Alistair Burt: We are aware there have been reports of Syrian military forces dressing in civilian clothing.
	As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in a statement on 26 April 2011, Official  Report, columns 33-41, we condemn utterly the violence perpetrated by the Syrian security forces against civilians who are expressing their views in peaceful protests. We are deeply concerned by the deployment of security forces against peaceful protesters in Deraa, Douma and coastal areas. As the Prime Minister said on 3 May 2011, this violent repression is disgraceful and unacceptable. We are clear that individuals responsible for the violence will be held accountable if the violence persists.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) Arab League counterparts on the future of President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The focus of the Government are in encouraging the ruling party and the official opposition in Yemen to reach an agreement on a peaceful transition. It is for the people of Yemen to determine their future. We recognise the urgency with which a political settlement in Yemen must be reached to avoid further violence and a deepening economic crisis. To this end we have actively engaged our international partners, including the EU, to encourage unified and strong messaging to the Government of Yemen and the parliamentary opposition.
	I welcome the support given by Baroness Ashton, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. In light of reports that both the ruling party and the opposition agreed to the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) transition plan, she issued a declaration urging all parties to move quickly to finalise the plan. Our officials have been working intensively alongside EU missions in Sana'a and European capitals to garner support for the latest initiative. Individual member states, including Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany, have issued their own messages in support of faster progress to overcome Yemen's political impasse. We will continue to liaise with our EU counterparts to ensure further progress towards a democratic, peaceful and inclusive transitional process.
	I can confirm I have discussed with the Arab League the challenges facing Yemen in the wider context of the Arab Spring in the middle east. I welcome the statement issued by the Arab League in April in support of the GCC initiative to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis in Yemen.

EU Grants and Loans

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 210W, on EU grants and loans, how many of the (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful bids received for the first round of the Regional Growth Fund in each region sought to use European Regional Development Fund monies as match-funding.

Mark Prisk: There were 464 bids to the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), of these 66 mentioned bids for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding in their application, some of this was confirmed and some unconfirmed. One bid Manchester Eye Hospital, was successful.
	Officials in this Department and in the ERDF teams have worked closely together to align, where practical, the respective funds’ bidding processes. Most ERDF programmes will be managing a simultaneous call for proposals to compliment the timing of the RGF’s second round, with the aim of encouraging applicants to maximise the available public resource. Applicants seeking to access ERDF will however need to comply with the application process and the ERDF specific project selection criteria.

Hallmarking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he held with the jewellery sector of the retail industry in (a) Scotland and (b) elsewhere in the UK before issuing his consultation under the Red Tape Challenge on the future of regulation of hallmarking of gold and silver articles in the UK;
	(2)  what consultation he held with the Assay Office in Scotland before issuing his consultation under the Red Tape Challenge in respect of regulation of hallmarking of gold and silver articles.

Mark Prisk: The Red Tape Challenge aims to take a comprehensive approach, looking widely at regulation, whether introduced through primary or secondary legislation or other means. It seeks views on where regulations are working well, as well as where they are imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses, members of the public or voluntary organisations or restricting personal freedoms. BIS ministers regularly meet with representatives from external organisations. This information is publically available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff

Regulation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he had with representatives of equalities organisations, prior to the publication of Red Tape Challenge, on the inclusion of the Equalities Act 2000 in the Challenge; what assessment he has made of the ability of people facing (a) inequality and (b) discrimination to contribute to the Red Tape Challenge; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Red Tape Challenge aims to take a comprehensive approach, looking widely at regulation, whether introduced through primary or secondary legislation or other means. It seeks views on where regulations are working well, as well as where they are imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses, members of the public or voluntary organisations or restricting personal freedoms. We have taken into consideration the duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity for all and foster good relations. The website makes clear that the presence of a particular piece of legislation, such as the Equality Act 2010, on the website should not be read as implying any intention on the part of the Government to remove that regulation. We are committed to making this website accessible to all users, regardless of circumstances. The Accessibility Statement is available here:
	http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/accessibility-statement/
	Those who are unable or who would prefer not to comment on the website are invited to submit their comments via the e-mail and postal address available on the website.

Somalia: Employment

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s bilateral aid review, what steps he plans to take to help get 45,000 people into jobs in Somalia.

Andrew Mitchell: Working with UN agencies, the World Bank and other development partners, the Department for International Development (DFID) has initiated a four year sustainable employment and economic development programme. The programme aims to improve economic and employment prospects, helping 45,000 women and young men in communities affected by conflict in Somalia to secure reliable long-term jobs.
	Detailed information will be set out in operational plans for each DFID country office, and published on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Crisis Loans

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the (a) number and (b) total value of applications for (i) budgeting loans and (ii) crisis loans that were (A) received and (B) awarded was in each branch of Jobcentre Plus in the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the (a) number and (b) total monetary value of applications for (i) Social Fund discretionary payments and (ii) community care grants (A) received and (B) awarded was in each branch of Jobcentre Plus in the last three years for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: We are unable to provide information at local Jobcentre Plus office level; data by social fund budget areas is available and has been placed in the Library.

Social Security Benefits: York Outer

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in York Outer constituency received one or more out-of-work benefit payment in the last three years.

Chris Grayling: The constituency of York Outer was only formed for the May 2010 Westminster parliamentary elections. The only data available are for May and August 2010, with August being the latest data available.
	
		
			  Number of claimants on out-of-work benefits 
			 May 3,180 
			 August 3,160 
		
	
	Out-work-of benefits are:
	JSA—claimants of jobseekers allowance
	ESA and incapacity benefits—claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance/employment and support allowance
	IS/PC—claimants of income support (and males age 60-64 claiming pension credit) that are not also claiming IB/SDA.
	Data are published at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Telephone Calls

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average speed of response to calls and (b) proportion of failed calls was in respect of each helpline operated by or on behalf of his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997.

Chris Grayling: It is not possible to provide the data for all of the Department’s lines back to 1997. The Department’s previous telephony platform was not able to capture the information that you have requested. The Department has since moved to Internet Protocol Contact Centres (IPCC), which means that the data is now recorded. The different agencies within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rolled out to IPCC at different times, which is why some hold information for a longer period of time than others.
	The Department operates several service lines and help lines and these are spread across the agencies. The information is placed in the Library and is displayed by agency.

Driving Offences

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many drivers were fined for an offence of not having valid motor insurance in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The number of persons fined at all courts for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, England and Wales, from 2000 to 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
	
		
			 Number of persons fined at all courts for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, England and Wales, 2000 to 2009   (1,2) 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008   (3) 2009 
			 Number of persons fined 154,132 150,430 161,499 188,017 200,588 184,365 179,825 161,424 137,554 125,556 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Legal Advice and Assistance: Members

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the effects on the number of people seeking assistance and advice from hon. Members of recent reductions in the legal aid budget; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: Both Impact Assessments (IAs) and Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) were published alongside the consultation paper, and these outline the anticipated impacts of the reforms in the consultation paper. We will publish revised IAs and EIAs alongside the Government’s response to consultation.

Legal Aid: Families

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding has been provided to (a) mothers and (b) fathers in legal aid for cases (i) in the family courts and (ii) involving the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information is not available in the form requested.
	The Legal Service Commission (LSC), which administers legal aid, is able to provide the costs paid in relation to care certificates issued for the period 2005-06 to 2009-10, and this is provided in the following table.
	Until October 2007 the LSC was unable to distinguish between costs incurred in care proceedings by parents from those with parental responsibility. The table reflects this change.
	
		
			 Spend on care certificates issued to parents and those with parental responsibility 
			 £ million 
			  Male Female 
			 2005-06 52 73 
			 2006-07 52 75 
			 2007-08 61 86 
			 2008-09 82 109 
			 2009-10 72 96

Bank Services

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to enable customers to change current accounts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to promote competition in the banking sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the capacity of the market for personal current accounts to sustain new entrants; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government established an Independent Commission on Banking to examine a range of issues, including competition in the retail banking and personal current account markets. The Government welcome the progress that the commission has made and looks forward to receiving its final report in September 2011.

Banks

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the anticipated yield would be for the Exchequer if the bank levy allowance of non-chargeable equity and liabilities were set at £10 billion with a threshold triggering the application of the levy remaining at £20 billion.

Mark Hoban: The impact on bank levy yield of such a change would be dependent upon the behavioural response of the levy payers, therefore it is not possible to assess the total yield.
	If the bank levy allowance of non-chargeable equity and liabilities was set at £10 billion with a threshold triggering the application of the levy remaining at £20 billion, a bank crossing the threshold would face an immediate tax charge of between £3.75 million and £7.5 million on the current rates of the bank levy. However, the exact charge on an individual institution would depend on the proportion of their taxable liabilities that were subject to the full and half rates for the levy.
	As part of the consultation on the design of the levy, respondents were generally of the view that a threshold would create potent incentives for banks around the margin to structure their business in certain ways, or disincentives to grow, in order to avoid crossing the threshold. Indeed some argued that a threshold would probably not achieve any higher yield than an allowance because of these effects with consequent impact on both economic activity and other tax receipts, such as corporation tax.
	The Government's decision to set an allowance of £20 billion instead of a £20 billion threshold did not alter the overall expected levy yield, as the levy rates were determined after such design details were finalised.

Financial services: Business

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his proposals concerning new domestic regulation affecting small businesses apply to rules introduced by the Financial Services Authority.

Mark Hoban: The Government have announced a moratorium exempting micro-businesses and start-ups from new domestic regulation. The moratorium will apply for three years from April 2011. The intention of the moratorium is that it will apply to new initiatives in primary and secondary legislation made by Government. The Government will be publishing guidance on the application of the moratorium in due course.
	The Financial Services Authority is an independent rule-making regulator with existing powers to make rules under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and therefore the moratorium will not automatically apply to rules it makes under these powers. Therefore it will be for the Financial Services Authority to decide whether not to apply new regulation to micro-businesses.
	The FSA is clear that it has an obligation to assess the impact of its rules on business, including small businesses, and seek to make its rules proportionate. The FSA has announced in its 2011-12 business plan that, recognising the difficult economic circumstances for many firms, it is not planning any new initiatives under its Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 powers beyond those which were already under way.

Fuel Poverty

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of changes to the carbon price floor on the number of households in fuel poverty in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

Justine Greening: holding answer 26 April 2011
	The December 2010 consultation document “Carbon price floor: support and certainty for low-carbon investment”, included an impact assessment which set out the increase to the Government's fuel poverty baseline resulting from a £30 per tonne of carbon dioxide price floor in 2020. This can be accessed online at:
	Page 23, table 1A
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/consult_carbon_price_support_condoc.pdf
	The Government are committed to supporting vulnerable consumers and tackling fuel poverty. It is putting in place a range of policies in parallel to the carbon price floor to contribute towards these aims. These include introducing the Warm Home Discount to assist more of the most vulnerable households with their energy bills and introducing the Green Deal from 2012 so that households and businesses can improve their energy efficiency at no upfront cost, repaying through their savings on energy bills.

Taxation: Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of revenue accruing to the Exchequer from the solar power sector in the next five years.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke) on 29 March 2011, Official Report, column 266W.

CAFCASS

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many cases Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service has recommended mediation between parents in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: Neither Cafcass nor this Department holds this information.

Children: First Aid

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to increase the number of children that are trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 May 2011
	The national framework for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education currently includes teaching primary school pupils about basic emergency procedures and where to get help; and secondary school pupils to develop the skills to cope with emergency situations that require basic first aid procedures, including, at ages 15-16, resuscitation techniques. These provide opportunities for children to learn how to act in an emergency to help others who are injured; ill, or otherwise in danger. External expert organisations such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance support schools in teaching about first aid and dealing with emergency situations.

Departmental Work Experience

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010.

Tim Loughton: Since 8 May 2010, the Department has taken 10 students onto its internship scheme. No students from the Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in that time.
	All students undertaking an internship with the Department will have met the nationality criteria. Further information can be found on the civil service website:
	http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Nationality-and-Immigration/UK-Nationals--British-Citizens/

Local Authorities

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local authorities have been subject to a partial or full intervention since 1997.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education’s records show that, since 1997, the Secretary of State for Education has issued directions, using powers in section 497A of the Education Act 1996, to the following local authorities: Bradford, Cornwall, Doncaster, Essex, Hackney, Haringey, Isles of Scilly, Islington, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Southwark, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Walsall, Waltham Forest and. Wokingham.
	Since 2008, Ministers have issued Improvement Notices to the following additional authorities: Birmingham, Calderdale, Cheshire West and Chester, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leeds, Leicester City, Nottinghamshire Peterborough, Rotherham, Sandwell, Salford, Surrey, Torbay, Warrington, West Sussex and Worcestershire.
	Other authorities have been subject to less formal performance improvement engagement with the Department, which has sometimes been described as intervention, and which has included enhanced monitoring, challenge and support.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  when the he plans to respond to the letter of 9 March 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North, which was transferred from the Treasury, reference 2011/0026547;
	(2)  when the he plans to respond to the letter of 5 April 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North regarding a constituent.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 3 May 2011
	The hon. Member for Walsall North's letters of 9 March and 5 April were responded to on 27 April 2011. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to the letter from 9 March.

Schools: Libraries

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to implement the recommendations of the School Library Commission report School libraries: A plan for improvement.

Nick Gibb: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 379W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).
	The Commission’s report was published last September.
	While the provision of a school library is not compulsory, a good school library is a valuable resource for pupils and teachers. The Government therefore welcomed last year’s report from the Commission, set up by the National Literacy Trust and Museums, Libraries and Archives, “School Libraries: A Plan for Improvement”, on the future role for school libraries and schools’ library services.
	The Department agrees that good school libraries and school library services make an important contribution to children’s literacy, and that schools are well placed to identify what provision best meets their educational needs.

General Practitioners

Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP consortia or GP practices are to be fundholders under his proposed NHS reforms.

Simon Burns: General practitioner (GP) consortia and GP practices will not be fund-holders. While fund-holding and our proposals for GP-led commissioning consortia share certain principles, they differ greatly in detail. The intention is for GP consortia to be corporate statutory bodies established by statute to have the function of commissioning health services in accordance with the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended by the Bill. The consortium would be a legal body in its own right, separate from individual GP practices.

General Practitioners

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research studies he has reviewed which (a) indicate and (b) do not indicate a link between the introduction of GP commissioning consortia and an improvement in the ability of patients to choose healthcare providers.

Simon Burns: As general practitioner (GP) commissioning consortia have yet to be established, research studies do not exist on the link between commissioning consortia and patient choice. However, the “Commissioning for patients (GP commissioning and the NHS Commissioning Board)” Impact Assessment outlines the evidence base for GP-led commissioning and improvements to access and choice.
	Patients currently have a right to choose their health care provider when referred for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant-led team. We are committed to extending the opportunities for choice of provider and treatment.

Health Education

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms he plans to put in place for the training of NHS staff to fulfil the commitment in his Department's Public Health White paper to encourage people to take responsibility for their health; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: In the Public Health White Paper “Healthy Lives Healthy People”, it was announced that a detailed workforce strategy to support public health is to be developed by autumn 2011, working with representative organisations. Informed by the views of people on the frontline of public health delivery it will set out how a supply of highly trained and motivated staff, with the appropriate skills for understanding the range of public health interventions, providing public health advice and commissioning the services communities require, can be sustained and grown, as needed.

Health Education

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's Public Health White Paper, what steps he plans to take to encourage the public to take personal responsibility for their health; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to his Department's document, Healthy Lives, Healthy People, paragraphs 2 and 9d, what steps he plans to take to achieve the commitment to build people's self-esteem, confidence and personal responsibility right from infancy; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health” in England, sets out the Government's vision for public health, including the creation of a new public health service—Public Health England—with a renewed focus on disease prevention, health protection and improvement.
	The Government have reinforced their commitment to tackling the preventable causes of ill-health by announcing its intention to give local authorities ring-fenced public health budgets to improve the health of their local population. A new health premium will reward progress on specific public health outcomes.
	The Government are taking a number of actions in order to provide the public with the information and support they need to make healthy choices and lead healthier lives. The Change4Life campaign still helps influence and shift behaviours around diet and physical activity, by giving families helpful advice on eating well and being more active. More than 1 million mothers say they have made changes as a result of the Change4Life campaign.
	The National Child Measurement Programme enables and encourages families to make healthier lifestyle choices by routinely providing parents, whose children have been weighed and measured, with feedback on their child's height, weight and body mass index centile, alongside advice on healthy eating, physical activity and local weight management services.
	The introduction of Out of Home Calorie Labelling, as one of the pledges of the Public Responsibility Deal, is also intended to empower people to make healthier choices more often, specifically when eating out.
	The Department has also been working with the four United Kingdom chief medical officers to develop revised UK-wide physical activity guidelines. These guidelines are primarily aimed at policy makers and health professionals. However as they provide information on the types and amounts of physical activity for health benefits, when incorporated into existing campaigns and messages they will help individuals to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being.
	All healthcare professionals have a responsibility to ensure that they make every contact with patients/the public count. This should include highlighting the impact of people's lifestyle choices and their health and wellbeing, as well as providing advice and support on how they can change these behaviours.

Neuromuscular Diseases: North West

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the NHS North West Specialised Commissioning Group in reviewing neuromuscular services in the region; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The North West Specialist Commissioning Group completed the review of neuromuscular services at the end of March 2011. The findings of the review have been circulated to all primary care trust chief executives in the North West strategic health authority area with a request that it is shared with board members and general practitioner commissioning consortia leads.

NHS: Procurement

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on promoting diversity in the procurement process for healthcare services.

Simon Burns: The Department’s guidance on procurement is set out in the “Procurement guide for commissioners of NHS-funded services”. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department’s website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_118218
	Commissioners of health care services, when using procurement as a means to deliver best quality for patients and value for the taxpayer, are expected to demonstrate consistency with the overarching principles of public procurement. These principles are:
	Transparency;
	Proportionality;
	Non-discrimination; and
	Equality of Treatment.

NHS: Standards

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on health outcomes of the World Class Commissioning assurance framework.

Simon Burns: The World Class Commissioning assurance framework assessed primary care trust’s (PCT’s) commissioning capabilities across three elements; outcomes, competencies and governance.
	The capability of PCTs was assessed in 2009 and 2010. It was recognised that it takes time to drive tangible change in outcomes. PCTs were not formally rated against their outcomes in 2009 or 2010.
	The assurance framework has since been discontinued.